Young girl with a concerned face

Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children Resources

Protecting your youngest and most vulnerable patients takes vigilance, knowledge and appropriate action. Children’s can help with training and resources to help you recognize and report child abuse or neglect.

The Center for Safe and Healthy Children provides specialized services to suspected victims of child abuse in metro Atlanta and across Georgia. Our medical professionals are always available for phone consultation with professionals who have questions about possible cases of child abuse or neglect.

We accept referrals from healthcare providers, law enforcement personnel, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and other child advocacy centers.

To contact our on-call medical provider, call the Children’s Transfer Center at 404-785-7778.

Notes:

  • If the alleged incident has taken place within 72 hours or if the patient has an acute medical complaint, send the child to the nearest Children’s Emergency Department immediately.
  • If the alleged incident took place more than 72 hours ago and the patient does not have an acute medical complaint, call the Center for Safe and Healthy Children at 404-785-3833 for the first available appointment.
  • The Center for Safe and Healthy Children provides evaluations in our outpatient clinics by appointment only.
  • A legal guardian must bring the patient to the appointment.
  • A referral does not relieve mandated reporters of their reporting responsibility, but we can help by providing contact numbers for the appropriate authorities.
  • The Center for Safe and Healthy Children accepts Medicaid and most private insurance. Provide authorization numbers and generate insurance referrals when needed.

The Center for Safe and Healthy Children offers specialized forensic medical evaluations and interviews for suspected victims of child abuse and neglect. Our facilities are equipped with digital colposcopy equipment, allowing for detailed documentation during the forensic medical evaluation. Trained social workers perform structured, videotaped forensic interviews, make referrals for counseling and provide crisis support to families. Referrals from professionals are required, and children are seen by appointment only.

The center also offers behavioral health assessments, diagnostic evaluations and therapy.

Trained medical providers are available to come to the Children’s Emergency Departments to evaluate victims of suspected child abuse who present to any of the three campuses 24/7.

To reach our after-hours service, call the Children’s Transfer Center at 404-785-7778 to speak to our on-call medical provider.

As a healthcare provider, you fall under Georgia’s mandated reporting requirement. If you suspect child abuse or neglect with any of your patients, you must make a report to the proper authorities within 24 hours. Referring a patient or consulting with Children’s staff does not relieve you of this duty. As a physician, you are in an excellent position to identify possible abuse or neglect, including physical or sexual abuse. We can help by providing the appropriate contact information and guidance.

The mandated reporting law was created to protect children whose health and welfare are at stake. Mandated reporting can result in a child being saved from further abuse. For questions about mandated reporting, training or assistance with policy development, contact cpctraining@choa.org.

Telemedicine for Child Protection

Bringing training and learning right to your fingertips

When you suspect a child is being mistreated but cannot leave your community, turn to the Child Protection Telemedicine and Distance Learning Network.

Learn More

Contact Us 404-785-3820